Comb



Jan. 17, 1933. c RQB|N$QN 1,894,832

COMB

Filed Jan. 8, 1932 INVENTOR 0471.601115]. Qehim Patented Jan. 17, 1933JOHN CARTER ROBINSON, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA- coma Application filedJanuary 8, 1932. Serial No. 585,406.

This invention relates to improvements in combs, and particularly tocombs which are employed for straightening hair which 1s curled andkinked and for curling hair as 5 well.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. I is a view in side elevation of thecomb of my invention; and Fig. II is a view of the comb in endelevation, drawn to enlarged scale.

The comb, borne on a suitable stem 1 (which may be provided with ahand-grip of heat-insulating material), is conveniently formed as anintegral casting (it may be machine-finished, of course) of suchmaterial as steel, brass, or aluminum. It consists of a heel portion 3and teeth 4. The heel is made relatively heavy, of much greater diameterthan is ordinarily true of such combs, and this heel in the use of thecomb becomes a roller, the curvature of whose surface is of relativelylarge radius, and whose bulk is such as to carry relatively largequantities of heat, and to remain heated when in use during relativelylong periods of time. The curvature of the surface of the heel of thecomb is on every cross-section continuous: There are no abrupt angles;and even in the spaces between the teeth the surface of the heel of thecomb is continuous and uninter- 0 rupted, as is indicated by dottedlines. The teeth are tapered to blunt points, as is usual; but,additionally (and this is a new feature), the line of teeth presents onopposite sides concave surfaces whose curvature may be understood tocorrespond approximately to the curvature of the head upon which thecomb in use is applied. The surface of the heel and the lateral surfacesof the line of teeth are arranged to lie in continuous lines of reversecurvature, as is sufficiently indicated in Fig. II. At the base theteeth are cut away, to form on the two sides grease grooves 5.

Preferably the comb is on its two sides nonsymmetrical,a featureapparent on a glance 5 at Fig. II. The concave surface of the line ofteeth on the left-hand side is of much greater extent than on the otherside; and, correspondingly, the heel of the comb is displaced to theright with respect to a central longitudinal plane through the teeth.This is an .chinery and in other heat-imparting tools.

adaptation of the instrument to conditions of use. Whether in the handsof a barber or in the hands of one who is engaged upon the hair of hisown head, the comb will be used preponderantly on one side, and theother side will be used only in a supplementary'and less important way.Accordinglythepressing surface 6 is extended upon one side, and theroller surface of the heel of the comb is correspondingly displaced tothe opposite side of the mid plane. v

For most effective use the hair to be straightened is prepared byrubbing in grease or wax, and the comb is heated. The comb is repeatedlyapplied over successive areas of 5 the head; the comb is passed downwardand the surface 6 pressed snug againstthe head, and in this movement ofthe comb the hair is drawn straight and held taut. Then, withoutappreciable relaxation of pressure, the hot heel of the comb is rolledupon and'downward along the so straightened body of hair. Excess Wax oroil finds escape in groove 5, while the effect of heat and pressure isto give permanent set to the straightened hair.

When a user applying the instrument to his own head has thus byemploying the lefthand side (Fig. II) and the heel of the comb operatedon the hair over the crown the right side and the back of his head, hemay apply to the relatively small remaining area the right-hand side ofthe comb.

Since it is heat applied to hair when imder tension which gives to thehair permanent set, the same instrument, useful in the manner describedto straighten hair, may be employed to curl hair. A look of hair takenup by the comb and by the turning of the comb wound upon and drawn tautupon it, may, the body of the comb having previously been heated, byheat and tension receive permanent set, so that when released the curlwill remain.

The comb, and particularly the heel portion, may be, and ordinarily willbe, a solid 95 casting; or it may be hollow and thin-walled, and adaptedto receive a separate and heated corean arrangement which needs noillustration, since it is a familiar one in fluting ma my hand Again, itis manifest that electrically heated coils may be arranged within a combof hollow body, and so the desired heat may be suplied and continued atwill. This also is a ea-ture of familiar use in curling-tongs and otherheat-imparting tools.

I claim as my invention:

1. A comb consisting of a heel and line of teeth, the two opposite sidesof the line of teeth being concave from base to ti and of a curvaturecorresponding to that o a human head, and the heel being of convexcurvature.

2. The comb of claim 1, the curved side of the line of teeth bein ofgreater extent on one side than on the 0 er.

3. A comb consisting of a roller-like heel and a line of teeth, theopposite sides of the line of teeth being concave from base to tip andthe heel being of convex curvature, the extent of the concave surface ofthe line of teeth bein eater on one side than on the other, an t e heelportion being laterally displaced from the mid-plane through the line ofteeth toward the side on which the extent of tooth surface is less.

4. The comb of claim 1, the teeth being provided at the base with agrease groove.

5. The comb of claim 1, the curvature of the side of the line of teethand the curvature of the heel lying in a continuous surface of reversedcurvature, interrupted on the line of reversal of curvature by a greasegroove at the base of the line of teeth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set JOHN CARTER ROBINSON.

